Dr. Oz Defends Weight Loss Advice Before Senate Panel

How many of you have a friend, aunt or mom who’s a complete and utter devotee of Dr. Mehmet Oz’s show—and have even ventured out to buy a product recommended on a segment (perhaps while under power of the “Dr. Oz Effect”)? Welp, the good doc got a talking-to in front of the Senate yesterday when he appeared at a hearing on deceptive advertising for diet supplements and products.

Oz has been under fire for featuring ingredients used in diet supplements. Notably, a green coffee bean extract and raspberry ketones (the aromatic compound of red raspberries)—ingredients that have not been rigorously proven to work.

“People want to believe you can take an itty-bitty pill to push fat out of your body,” Sen. Claire McCaskill, chair of the Senate’s Consumer Protection panel, told Oz. But “the scientific community is almost monolithically against you.”

The doc defended his right to support supplements he believes in, particularly if he feels they can kick-start weight loss with the help of healthy eating and fitness habits. As for the “exultatory” language (“miracle,” anyone?) he was called out on, Oz appeared to take the reprimand in stride.

McCaskill elaborated on her position to CBS News: “I’ve got no problem with celebrity endorsements of any product but I do have a problem when a science-based doctor says something is a miracle when there’s no science to back it up.”

“I came here because I want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem,” said Oz.

We’re standing by to see how Dr. Oz plans to address his experience on the show.